People should say hello in the neighborhoods more. It’s easy to be nice to people.
Pumpkins
There is still time to grab a pumpkin at the YMCA patch before Halloween! Friendly reminder that this patch serves as a fundraiser for programming that the Y supports throughout the year in the Palisades.
Mural
I loved reading that the Temescal Mural is on its way to being restored. Even more special that the original artist is involved in the project. One thing that makes this town so special is its stewards, who still care enough to fix things up, even decades later.
Halloween
Not only do our neighbors have some of the best Halloween decorations around, we also have some of the best Halloween activities. There is no shortage of spooky events leading up to the big night.
Dogs
It is surprising to see off-leash dogs in the Palisades. I am hoping the dog park helps alleviate the frequency in public spaces, like our parks and streets.
Got something to say? Call 310-454-1321 or email 2cents@palipost.com and get those kudos or concerns off your chest. Names will not be used.
A previous griefHaven luncheon Photos courtesy of griefHaven
Pacific Palisades-Based Nonprofit griefHaven is Celebrating its 20th Anniversary and Awards Ceremony
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Out of darkness came so much light—in fact, 20 years of light, and counting.
Highlands resident Susan Whitmore created nonprofit griefHaven in 2003 after the death of her daughter Erika when she could not find the type of grief support she needed. The organization is now honoring 20 years of helping others through their own losses.
“It’s a journey—a lifelong journey,” Whitmore described. “You don’t ‘get over’ losing a loved one. You learn to live with it, and we help you do that.”
GriefHaven initially started as a center that provided support groups, individual counseling and a website with resources for those grieving the loss of a child, then expanded its mission to provide grief support and education for all losses.
“Join us in celebration our 20th year as you share and shop—making it possible for griefHaven to continue its unique and effective grief support and education for grieving parents, siblings, spouses, families and communities,” read information about the event.
The event will feature a performance by stand-up comedian and actress Caroline Rhea, who is well known for her role as Hilda Spellman in the series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” as well as her comedy specials. She also voiced the mom on Disney’s series “Phineas and Ferb.”
This year, fellow Palisadian Jacqueline Jacobs Caster—founder and president of Everychild Foundation—will be the recipient of the Peace of Heart Award. The nonprofit operates with a mission to ease “the suffering of children in the Greater Los Angeles area, whether due to disease, disability, abuse, neglect or poverty.”
The program will also include honoring Palisadian Beth Abrams with the Heart-to-Heart Award for “her many years of supporting griefHaven’s mission and her lifelong commitment to providing loving service to organizations she’s passionate about.”
Founder and CEO Susan Whitmore
“The death of someone you hold dear is one of life’s most painful and stressful experiences, often taking a person to the darkest and most hopeless of places,” Whitmore wrote in a statement. “Extending a hand of support and service, which is what griefHaven so expertly does, is invaluable and always a necessity in all our communities.”
Over the past year, griefHaven has been able to provide more than $35,000 in scholarships for individuals who would not otherwise have been able to afford to attend grief support groups or receive private counseling by grief experts.
“As one group ends, another group begins, either in person or by Zoom,” Whitmore explained. “so that around the world people who are grieving can be in a group with others who have had the same loss.”
A griefHaven group is “more than a talk group,” according to Whitmore: “It’s an actual program that uses diverse tools and resources that have been shown to work for people who are grieving. This program starts off in meeting one and builds upon itself until, at the end of the program, each person not only leaves with specific tools and education about grief, but as a group or individual they have been guided and loved along the grief path.”
The griefHaven website also serves as a “loving and educational community,” with more than two million visits per year and thousands of requests for a “Packet of Hope,” which includes “wisdom and well-tested practices to cope with grief.”
“First responders, medical employees, therapists, businesses, individual facilities, such as the LGBTQ organization, and others also continue to benefit from griefHaven’s educational and trauma support resources,” Whitmore added.
Looking forward to 2025, Whitmore said griefHaven will “continue to be there for everyone who is deeply entrenched in the grieving process.” Donations will help train additional grief counselors in the griefHaven Method. With additional therapists and counselors trained, Whitmore explained, more groups can be formed to get people off of waitlists.
“You can also change the life of someone who has suffered a devastating loss by supporting our scholarship fund so that we may continue to offer grief support groups for all who need them, regardless of their ability to pay,” Whitmore said.
The Friends of griefHaven started with a core group of Palisadians, some of whom had also experienced loss in their lives. The group supports griefHaven’s mission and vision through financial contributions, hands-on assistance and yearly fundraising events.
This year’s event is sponsored by Joan and Rob Blackman, Ellie and Bruce Lederman, Linda and Bob Margolis, and Lauren and Austin Fite.
Part of the gala is an auction, with items opening for bidding on Monday, October 21. Anyone can make a bid, regardless if they are attending the gala.
GriefHaven has several ways to contribute: by purchasing a ticket to the gala, bidding on the auction, donating or purchasing a ticket that will go to someone who would not otherwise afford to attend.
1000 Swarthmore Avenue, October 1 at 3:16 p.m. Clothing valued at $600 taken from business.
800 Muskingum Avenue, October 2 between 12:40 and 1 p.m. Computer taken from porch.
Burglary
11600 Mayfield Avenue, October 1 at 11:48 a.m. Suspect used key from lockbox to enter garage gate. Suspect took electric scooter and other items totaling $4,900.
400 Surfview Drive, October 10 at 8:25 p.m. Suspect smashed rear window. Suspect ransacked and took two passports and $5,000 in cash.
Provided by LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin. In case of emergency, call 911. To report a non-emergency, call 877-275-5273.
The contest—which ran throughout summer before concluding in September—was open to students in first through 12th grade.
Attendees snacked on light refreshments provided by Friends of the Palisades Library, also known as Pacific Palisades Library Association, while winning tales with the theme “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to…” were read, once again, by actors Bill Jones and Christine Kludjian.
Jotters
PPLA Vice-President, Communications, Kathy Slattery welcomed everyone who attended in the community room at Palisades Branch Library, noting that each year, she appreciates all of the student writers who take the time to enter the contest. She also thanked the judges and librarians for their help coordinating.
Rena Repetti, PPLA vice-president, membership, extended an invitation to the community to join the Friends of the Palisades Library for as little as $25 per year. She explained that the library functions as a “hub” for the community, that with all of its programming and spaces, it is a “vibrant place.”
Before beginning to read the winning tales from the five age categories, Kludjian noted that she was “happy to be here,” joking with Jones that they had been doing this for “42 years,” before explaining that they really have been doing it for 10-plus years.
Scrawlers
“It’s really and truly a pleasure to be here,” Kludjian said.
The program began with the winners in the Scribblers group (grades one and two): Third place went to Roman McNitt for “The Missing Fruit Guy,” second place to Jack Kervin for “Taco Night Terror” and first place to Mark James “MJ” Brown for “The Hunt for the Diamond.”
While receiving their prizes, Jack Kervin noted that the characters in his piece—TJ, Cain, Dennis and Mateo—shared names with his real-life friends.
Next up was Jotters (grades three and four) with Clara Bowles for “A funny thing happened on the way to ice cream with my friends” in third place, Emma Kerdiles for “A Dream” in second place and Phoebe Hanelin for “Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Zoo” in first place.
Scribes
Grades five and six—the Scrawlers category—had Ella Kervin in second place for “Escape From Ziatonia” and Scarlett Taylor with “A Voice of Encouragement” in first place.
Hudson Marks received third place for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Mountain” in the Scribes category (grades seven and eight), with Sydney Lee for “A Lucky Find” in second place and Rohan Mukhopadhyay in first place for “The Bank Heist.”
The high school category (Authors) had James Marks in third place for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To Tuesday,” Audrey Yael Smith in second place for “Checkmate” and James Corman in first place for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Ground,” which was the final story read during the program.
Authors
All participants received a gift certificate for a scoop from McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, while winning authors received certificates to DIESEL, A Bookstore, with first place taking home $100, second place $75 and third place $50 in each category.
A raffle was conducted with one family receiving tickets and popcorn for four at Bay Theater.
“Don’t stop writing,” Kludjian said at the end of the event, while Jones suggested more space stories: “We never get enough of those.”
Halloween Glow Night | Palisades Recreation Center
Halloween Glow Night will take place at Palisades Recreation Center on Sunday, October 27, between 4 and 8 p.m. in the courtyard and big gym.
From 4 to 6 p.m. there will be carnival games, prizes, inflatables, a coloring contest, crafts, food vendors and a DJ. Between 6 and 8 p.m. there will be an “interactive basketball event, with professional dunkers [and] contests.”
“Thank you to Glowball Sports Kidz and the Palisades [Recreation Center] Park Advisory Board for their support,” read a flyer for the event. “All participants must have a waiver signed by a parent at the door.”
Palisades Recreation Center is located at 851 Alma Real Drive. Attendees are encouraged to email palisades.rc@lacity.org for more information.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Dr. Cara Natterson | Paul Revere
Dr. Cara Natterson—a pediatrician, co-host of the podcast “This Is So Awkward” and New York Times best-selling author—will speak at Paul Revere Charter Middle School on Tuesday, November 12, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on “Modern Puberty Explained: The Ultimate Roadmap for Adults Guiding Kids.”
“We are thrilled to offer parents in the community the opportunity to hear Dr. Natterson address parenting concerns with a good dose of humor,” Paul Revere Parent and PRIDE Community Relations JoAnna Rodriguez said. “She’ll be delving into issues that every parent of kids ages 8 to 18 face and providing them with a roadmap for success.”
Natterson will address things like acne, body odor, growth spurts, mental health, sports overspecialization and more.
The event will take place in the auditorium at Paul Revere, located at 1450 Allenford Avenue.
—SARAH SHMERLING
‘A Tribute to Joel Lish’ | Upper El Medio
Palisades Symphony has announced its next concert, which will take place on Sunday, October 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m.: “A Tribute to Joel Lish.”
“Joel Lish (1935-2024) was the founding director of the Palisades Symphony,” read a statement. “He served in this role for over 50 years, inspiring hundreds of players with his warm and vivid personality, and his outstanding musicianship. We honor Joel in this concert, which features some of his own favorite works as well as outstanding soloists who performed with the orchestra under Joel’s direction.”
The program is set to include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro,” Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Viola Concerto in G,” Georges Bizet’s “Habanera” and “Toreador’s Song” from “Carmen,” Cary Belling’s “Music Madly Makes the World Go Round,” and Johannes Brahms “Symphony No. 1 in C Minor.”
Maxim Kuzin is the conductor and music director of Palisades Symphony. The concert, which is free to attend and has open seating, will take place at Palisades Lutheran Church, located at 15905 Sunset Boulevard.
For additional information, visit palisadessymphony.org.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Graveyard Smash | Simon Meadow
As part of this year’s pumpkin patch, Palisades-Malibu YMCA is hosting a Graveyard Smash on Saturday, October 26, at Simon Meadow from 4:30 to 8 p.m.
“Head over to Simon Meadow for some fall spooky fun,” read a flyer.
The event will have trick or treating, face painting, a costume contest and “ghoulish games.”
For more information, visit ymcala.org/PM or email isaielias@ymcala.org.
Joanne “Jojo” Levey Photos courtesy of Joanne Levey
Pali High Grad Joanne Levey Will Participate in the New York City Marathon, Raising Funds With OAR’s Run for Autism Team
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Though she has never ran a marathon in her life, Palisades Charter High School graduate Joanne “Jojo” Levey is up for the challenge.
The Class of 2018 alum is now training for the 2024 New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3—while raising funds for the Organization for Autism Research’s Run for Autism team.
In preparation for the marathon, Levey said she will have completed more than 25 weeks of training. Her previous athletic training includes growing up playing soccer competitively from the age of 5 to about 17 through club and school teams.
“When I went to college, I moved from Los Angeles to New York and went to NYU, graduated 2021,” Levey explained. “I tried to stay athletic in New York City, but it wasn’t more than core workouts in my room, the occasional gym membership that barely lasted a month and then running around the neighborhood.”
She said it is “nothing like LA,” since the city is all “concrete.” But last year, she had a coworker who ran the marathon, which inspired Levey to try to do it as well.
“I love giving myself really big challenges,” she explained. “It’s one of my favorite things to do.”
The training sessions started “very small,” Levey described, beginning with a one-mile run, then two miles, once or twice per week.
“About six months ago,” she said, “I decided to make this massive spreadsheet that basically was a 25-week plan of how I would run in preparation for the actual marathon.”
Levey said she feels “awesome,” that it has been “insane to watch” her body “transform back into being an actual athlete.”
In order to run in the New York City Marathon, participants either need to qualify at a previous race or be sponsored by a charity. A friend who had previously run in NYC with OAR’s team suggested Levey check it out.
Levey said she joined OAR’s Run for Autism NYC team—which includes 110 runners—because she has “personal experience with schooling and health care” for individuals with autism, beginning while she was attending Pali High.
“When I worked as a tutor for children with developmental disorders, I learned the importance of helping adolescents through proper encouragement and lesson plans geared to their understanding,” Levey wrote. “I also assisted my mother in California, who works as an aid for autistic adults. The relationships I built have changed me forever and helped me recognize how we all must become a better support system for the autistic community.”
Levey said she “developed such attachments to the children,” and she saw “how important it was” that each student received a good education. This prompted her to learn more and develop a tutoring plan geared toward each participant as individuals.
“It felt so rewarding to get their report cards back and see that they were progressing,” Levey said of tutoring with the specific plan, “and teachers making comments that they could see the kids were all doing better in school.”
“[The Organization for Autism Research] was founded 20-plus years ago by the loved ones of children with autism who now act as the Board of Directors,” Levey explained. “Alongside the board, educators, self-advocates, researchers and volunteers work toward OAR’s mission of bettering the quality of life for those with autism. This is done by improving educational resources, social interactions, family spheres, workplaces and other environments of everyday interaction for those with autism.”
OAR’s Run for Autism team—which is the main fundraising branch for the organization—takes part in several athletic events throughout the year, including the Pittsburgh Marathon, Big Sur Marathon, Chicago Marathon and Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
“While the program is called ‘Run’ for Autism, we invite you to take part in whatever athletic adventure you choose,” the website read. “Whether you are summiting a mountain, walking a local 5K or competing in a bike race, you can dedicate your miles to life-changing autism research.”
For the New York City Marathon, Levey has set a fundraising goal of $3,500—of which she had raised just over $2,700 at print time on Tuesday, October 22. She listed some of the ways OAR will use the funds raised through the team, including $10 for a “Curriculum in a Box” professional development set for general education teachers to $3,000, which provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.
“Thank you so much for your support during this crucial period of my life, as both a participant in the NYC Marathon and advocate for OAR: Run for Autism,” Levey said. “Any amount you can donate is appreciated.”
By DAMON RASKIN, M.D. | Special to the Palisadian-Post
Q:My aunt was diagnosed with an allergy to cashews in her 50s. Prior to that, she had no signs of being allergic to them, which got me thinking about it: What causes allergies to develop later in life versus ones that are discovered much younger (like when someone is a baby)? Is it possible to develop an allergy at any age to anything, like dairy, eggs or nuts?
I distinctly recall being in my second year of medical school and receiving a phone call from my mom telling me that while my parents were on vacation in Hawaii, my dad was rushed to the hospital with a severe allergic reaction to the shrimp he had at dinner.
He turned red, developed hives and then began to get a swollen lip. He got to the hospital in time for treatment, and he was fine after receiving the appropriate medications.
The strange thing was that he had eaten shrimp his entire life without a problem. He has not eaten any since.
Allergies, which are abnormal immune responses to typically harmless substances, can develop at any age, from early childhood to later stages of life. Understanding the factors that lead to early-onset versus adult-onset allergies provides insight into the complex interplay between genetics, environment and the immune system.
While some individuals are born with a predisposition to allergies that emerge in infancy or childhood, others may develop allergies much later in life, even to substances they have previously encountered without issue. So, what causes this difference in timing, and is it possible to develop an allergy to anything at any age?
Allergies that develop early in life are often the result of genetics. Children born to parents with allergies have a higher likelihood of developing similar conditions, a phenomenon known as atopy. This genetic susceptibility primes the immune system to overreact to common allergens like pollen, pet dander, certain foods or dust mites.
I come from a long line of family members who are allergic to cats. I found out about my allergy when going to a friend’s house in the first grade who had a cat, and I had to leave after 15 minutes because I could not stop sneezing.
Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to food allergens. Common culprits include milk, eggs, tree nuts and shellfish. Immature immune systems are more sensitive to new substances, and once they encounter a particular allergen, they may produce an exaggerated immune response.
Environmental factors may also play a significant role. For instance, children exposed to high levels of pollution, tobacco smoke or even cleaning chemicals have been found to have higher rates of asthma or other allergic reactions. Early microbial exposure, such as interactions with pets, can also influence immune development, and either promote or even prevent allergies, depending on the exposure.
Allergies later in life, like with my dad, are more mysterious. One theory is that the immune system changes over time, particularly as we age or encounter new environmental stressors. In some cases, immune systems weaken due to age, illness or chronic conditions that may cause an allergic reaction to emerge as the body’s defense mechanisms shift.
On the other hand, heightened immune activation caused by stress, infections or hormonal changes, such as in pregnancy or menopause, can prompt the immune system to overreact to substances it previously tolerated.
In addition, relocating to a different part of the country can expose adults to new allergens. Changes in diet or a new climate may introduce new plants or molds that can trigger an allergic response for the first time in adulthood.
So yes, it is possible to develop an allergy at any age, underscoring the need for ongoing awareness and proper management of allergic reactions throughout life. Listen to your body, and if you develop any new allergy symptoms, please speak to your medical provider.
St. Matthew’s Music Guild will continue its 40th anniversary season of concerts on Friday, November 1, at 8 p.m. with an all-Beethoven program conducted by Dwayne Milburn.
“Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a pianist of ‘unerring, warm-toned refinement, revealing judicious glimmers of power,’ Robert Thies joins us as we spend an evening with the music of Beethoven,” Music Guild wrote in a statement. “Thies first captured worldwide attention in 1995 when he won the gold medal at the Second International Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, thus becoming the only American pianist to win first prize in a Russian piano competition since Van Cliburn’s famed triumph in Moscow in 1958.”
The Los Angeles resident—taught by Robert Turner and Daniel Pollack—has had a “diverse” career as an orchestral soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He has performed 40 concerti with orchestras across the world, according to his biography, including Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, National Symphony of Mexico, Virginia Symphony and Pasadena Symphony.
Thies’ concerts have been broadcast across the globe, in such places like the United States, Russia, Estonia, Bolivia, Hungary, Latvia, Mexico and New Zealand.
The Music Guild program will begin with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Creatures of Prometheus Overture,” followed by “Symphony No. 5.” Thies will then join the orchestra for “Third Piano Concerto.”
“Originally believed to have been composed in 1800, scholars now believe Beethoven completed the work in the summer and fall of 1802,” Music Guild President Tom Neenan wrote about “Third Piano Concerto.” “The only one of the five piano concertos in a minor key, many scholars consider the ‘Piano Concerto No. 3’ to be the first major work of Beethoven’s middle period, that is music written after he struck out on his ‘new path.’”
The concert will take place at St. Matthew’s Church, located at 1035 Bienveneda Avenue. It has been underwritten by a “generous grant” from the Colburn Foundation.
Pre-concert “Liner Notes”—free for all ticket holders—will begin at 7:10 p.m. Tickets are available for $45 or as part of a season subscription.
Palisadian Tom Hanks has taken on a starring role in the film “Here,” adapted from Richard McGuire’s eponymous novel, set to release on Friday, November 1.
The film reunites the director, writer and stars of “Forrest Gump,” with director and co-writer Robert Zemeckis, co-writer Eric Roth, starring Hanks and Robin Wright—all of whom collaborated on the 1994 film.
“Here” is described as a “generational story about families and the special place they inhabit, sharing in love, loss, laughter and life,” according to IMDb. The characters traverse through age and time throughout the film.
Zemeckis explained that “Here” follows a single perspective that never changes, but everything around it does, similar to a traditional playhouse experience.
“It’s actually never been done before,” Zemeckis said to Vanity Fair. “There are similar scenes in very early silent movies, before the language of montage was invented. But other than that, yeah, it was a risky venture”
Zemeckis said he mused the idea of adapting McGuire’s 2014’s novel “Here” with Hanks on set of Disney’s “Pinocchio” while they were in London: “That night, Tom went home, bought the book on Kindle, and came back the next morning and said, ‘My God, that’s it. That’s the one.’
In September, the American Film Institute announced that the world premiere of “Here” was selected as the Centerpiece Gala at this year’s AFI Fest. The film will debut at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Friday, October 25.
“Robert Zemeckis is, first and foremost, a master storyteller and, uniquely, one who has spent a lifetime utilizing the latest technologies to tell the human story,” AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale said in a statement. “‘Here’ presents a profoundly powerful emotional experience while also bringing the art of film into the future.”
AFI will honor Zemeckis with a Directors Spotlight on Thursday, October 24.
“AFI serves as a valued institution in the important preservation and celebration of motion pictures, and it is an honor to premiere ‘Here’ at AFI Fest,” Zemeckis said. “I hope audiences will enjoy the film as much as Tom, Robin, Eric and I loved reuniting to bring this story to the screen.”
“Here” has a runtime of one hour and 44 minutes, and a PG-13 rating.
The Grinsfelder brothers in NYC Photos courtesy of David Grinsfelder
Contributing Writer David Grinsfelder Reports on the Social Chaos Summer Brings to NYC
By DAVID GRINSFELDER | Contributing Writer
On a crisp autumn morning in early November, thousands of people gather at the starting line of the New York City Marathon, having prepared and qualified for this storied event.
As this race gets underway, another one is coming to an inauspicious end. It is a marathon of sorts—albeit much longer and far more grueling. This, dear readers, is the New York City Social Marathon.
Born and raised in Pacific Palisades, I am entirely accustomed to our comfortable temperate climate that oscillates between pleasant, a little less pleasant and pleasant again. This repetitive weather pattern gives rise to “season monotony” that, in my opinion, neutralizes enthusiasm for the golden rays of summer.
When you can enjoy sunshine and moderate temperatures 300-plus days per year, summer doesn’t quite pack the same punch as it does when there is no “dead period” with which to compare it. Enter the seasons of New York.
Because residents of the Big Apple spend the months of December to March scurrying from one heated indoor location to the next, they breathe a collective, quasi-spiritual sigh of relief when the frost breaks and the air finally begins to warm.
At a Yankees game
As winter succumbs to spring, New Yorkers cautiously begin their metamorphosis, shedding peacoats and puffer jackets (and doing an apprehensive wardrobe inventory, lest it be an infamous “false spring” that comes just before winter’s end and blindsides them with another 10 days of bitter temperatures). By late April, there is no denying it: Summer is weeks, if not days, away.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is when the real New York City marathon begins.
There is no official starting line, but at some point after Father’s Day in mid-June, a silent starting gun goes off and the race is suddenly underway. As the days grow in length, so do the social calendars.
More daylight hours mean evening picnics after work on Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park. Rooftop soirées that would be impossible in January become a staple of the weekly itinerary.
Proverbial “hot girl walks” (ask your resident Gen Z friend or family member for a definition) on the Westside Highway would be a lonely affair on any winter day, but they provide a flurry of 10-second romances from July through September.
Dinner in New York
Of course, there is good reason I felt like a zoo animal whose keeper left the gates open on the most perfect days of the year. Anyone who has done a full 12-month cycle in Manhattan knows this incredible season of sociability, and the limitless sips and trips that go with it, is tantalizingly short.
Twelve weeks is not much time when you factor in several weekend getaways to the Hamptons, a flurry of friends visiting from out of town, and endless happy hours and solicitations to “grab a drink sometime.” Did someone suggest an impromptu trip to London? I guess that trip home for Labor Day can wait until next year.
It is a time-honored tradition for New Yorkers to leave it all on the field during the marvelously long days of summer. And it is precisely because these idyllic days seem to fly by that residents tolerate the frenetic sprint toward fall that grips the city each year.
Does it occasionally get overwhelming? Yes. Is it actually necessary to leave New York City every few weeks, lest one get swept up in a social current of dinners, drinks and U.S. Open festivities, never to be heard from again? Absolutely.
U.S. Open
But in the end, most New Yorkers will agree that winter’s quietude and indoor-ness juxtaposes summer’s exquisite social chaos in a way that begets genuine appreciation.
In many respects, summer season in the concrete jungle is much like the 26.2 miles that runners will travel on Sunday, November 3. Crowds of people line the streets. It is loud. It is chaotic. Participants are never drinking as much water as they probably should. And inevitably, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised by the vibe of a neighborhood you had no intention of ever visiting.
In the end, regardless of which marathon they run, New Yorkers can look back on the experience and be proud that they gave it their all.
David Grinsfelder is a graduate of Palisades Charter High School (2015) and UC Berkeley (2019). He currently lives in New York and is writing a series of travel stories for the Palisadian-Post. The Grinsfelders have been Highlands residents since 1989.
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